The familiar sound of pile driving has returned to Pensacola Bay following the threat of Hurricane Irma. A statewide emergency associated with the hurricane stopped work on highway and bridge projects throughout Florida last week.

Barges, cranes and other equipment used in construction of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge will be moved to “safe haven” beginning today.

The first trophy piece for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge is complete. Others are being fabricated at the Bayou Chico casting facility.

Work is underway to trim the concrete piles driven on the west side of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. The piles are being trimmed at, or near the water line in advance of topping them with massive concrete components informally known as a trophy pieces because their resemblance to a trophy or award.

Concrete test piles are being driven at each “bridge bent” location to determine the lengths and driving criteria for the production piles that will be driven at the location. The production piles will provide the foundation for the new bridge(s). More than 2,000 test and production piles are scheduled to be driven.